Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish blog with a different top ten list theme (all related to books) every Tuesday (see the full list here).
1. The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
A demon instructs another less experienced demon on how to tempt mankind. Imagine a story from the perspective of your worst enemy who knows you entirely too well, while he/she is plotting against you. When you see how your enemy perceives you, it is very eye-opening.
2. Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein
About the friendship of two women during WWII . This book was written in a very odd, bold perspective that made me roll my eyes numerous times; but at the end I slammed the book shut and shook my head in amazement. I do believe the book wouldn't have been half as memorable if it had been written with a more traditional perspective.
3. Feed, by M.T. Anderson
I should have hated this book; it's written from the perspective of a bored, spoiled teen boy. Everything is blah blah blah to him; he has everything he could possibly desire but nothing satisfies. Somehow this book absolutely hooked me and amazed me (and terrified me).
4. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
Just... just... words fail me... so good. So scary amazing mind bending good. Like many of the other books on this list, some aspects irritated me because it was so unusual. But SO WORTH it if you stick it out to the end.
5. Snowcrash, by Neil Stephenson
A twist on virtual reality. My first experience with cyberpunk, and it rattled me and amazed me. I'm not sure if it qualifies as unique but from my perspective it certainly was.
6. The Stranger, by Albert Camus
I vehemently disagree with many things in this book, and at the same time think it is very perceptive. Not as colorful as the Great Gatsby, but this one was even sharper. The most memorable of all the required reading I survived in high school.
A matriarchal society set in a far-future Brazil. I have never before met such a cast of vain and unlikeable characters... with powerful character arcs that left me very impressed.
8. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
The main character, the narrator, is Death. A very interesting character, too, with an opinion on everything.
9. Shatter Me, by Taherah Mafi.
Sort of a stream of consciousness book, unique (to me) because half of the main character's thoughts are struck out on the page, and the other half are numbered. It was hard to read, but some of it was like visiting a museum of the rarest and finest of beautiful and unique expressions
10. The Mitford series, by Jan Karon
These books were unique to me in that I never thought I could identify with a 60 year old single man (and an Episcopal priest) as a main character. I still don't know how Jan Karon did it, but these books are some of my all-time favorites.
What's the most unique book you've read?
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I absolutely adore The Stranger by Camus. One of the few books I read in one sitting. Utterly mesmerising and totally unique. Nothing like it ever or since!
ReplyDeleteLoving your list - totally got me thinking!
I think George Orwell's 1984 is one of my most unique book I've read! Take care
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That's the perfect word for it - the Stranger is mesmerizing. And 1984 was the first of its kind, that's for sure.
DeleteThe Book Thief was on my list as well this week, and I've been meaning to read The Ender's Game for ages. Great list! :)
ReplyDeleteI loved Code Name Verity so, so much. I cried about half way through and then at the end! I plan to read Elizabeth Weir's other books when I have time. I also added The Screwtape Letters to my Goodreads shelf, I think my othe rhalf would like that book very much.
ReplyDeleteGunmen, Raptors and Love Letters - Under The Mountain's TTT
I can't read Code Name Verity! And the Book Thief was soooooo good. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteGreat picks. I haven't read them all, but the ones I have read I love - Code Name Verity (unique not only for its sensitivity and awesome plot, but also for it's spotlight on female friendships); The Book Thief (which is impossible to explain to anyone because it doesn't SOUND like it should work), and The Screwtape Letters. I really have been meaning to get to Shatter Me... someday!
ReplyDeleteI've read a few of those, and others are on my list. Unique reads, though? I remember a video game my husband and I played way back in the day when we played RPG's together, and it had the most unique twist. The characters actually came out of the game into a real world to discover their world was literally just a game dictated by gamers. It was amazing.
ReplyDeleteFeed and The Book Thief both had my mind reeling. Great list. Adding some to ye olde TBR mountain (it's way past pile).
ReplyDeleteMountain - yup - I think I'm past a pile now too! :)
DeleteI'm intrigued by the books you read. They are so different from what I read. I guess Stephen King's books are the most unusual that I am reading right now.
ReplyDeleteI do love Ender's game!
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